Adaptive escape routing system

ABSTRACT

An adaptive escape routing system for use in buildings and building complexes in which a plurality of detectors or detector suites are situated throughout the building or building complex and provide information to a central controller as to the release of toxic, injurious, and/or agents, such as nuclear, biological, or chemical agents, in any form (including gaseous, vaporous, or particulate form). The controller, upon detection of an active sensor, commands exit and, optionally, no exit signage to designate safe exit/escape routes.

The United States government has a paid-up license in this invention andthe right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner tolicense others on reasonable terms as provided for by the terms ofContract No. MDA972-99-3-0029 awarded by DARPA.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adaptive escape-route system for usein a building, buildings, building complexes, and related structures inwhich an event, such as the release of a chemical, biological, and/ornuclear agent, requires the immediate evacuation of the building(s) orbuilding complex in such a way that the evacuating occupants move awayfrom the locus of the release and, more particularly, move away from thelocus of the release and from any regions, areas, etc. into which thereleased agents may spread or disperse between the time of the initialrelease and the eventual full or substantially full evacuation of thebuilding(s) or building complex.

Historically, all buildings and building complexes include emergencyexit signage that point to the nearest available building exit to beused in the event of an emergency, typically a fire. Thus, when anemergency occurs, an occupant or occupants can look to the existingsignage for the nearest exit, typically a fire-safe and ventilatedstairwell that leads outwardly of the building. The expectation is thatthe occupant or occupants will be directed to an exit, typically thenearest exit, and be able to exit the building or building complex inthe shortest possible time.

The nature of chemical, biological, and nuclear agent threats is suchthat a toxic, injurious, or lethal agent in a gaseous, vapor, aerosol,or particulate form can be released within a building or buildingcomplex at an initial location and can then spread or disperse withinthe building or building complex by numerous routes to one or more otherlocations in the building or building complex. The released agent canspread or disperse along hallways and corridors, in above-ceiling andbelow-floor spaces, and through various ventilation shafts and the like.More threatening, however, is dispersal through air-moving systems,including the forced-air ducting associated with fresh-air ventilation,heated-air distribution, and chilled-air distribution systems, that canmove air from one location in the building to another location remotefrom the first location. Thus, the release of a toxic, injurious, orlethal agent at one location in the building can be distributed withinthe building or building complex to other, secondary locations bydiffusion in the ambient air as well as by the air-handling systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention, amongothers, to provide an adaptive escape routing system for use inbuildings and building complexes in which the initial detection of therelease of a toxic, injurious, or lethal agent causes an identificationof those exits that lead away from the area of the initial release and,optionally, any areas, locations, etc. in which the released agent canspread to, disperse to, or be conveyed to during at least that period oftime necessary to achieve a full evacuation of the occupants.

The present invention advantageously provides an adaptive escape routingsystem for use in buildings and building complexes in which a pluralityof detectors or detector suites are situated throughout the building orbuilding complex. The detectors are designed to detect the release oftoxic, injurious, and/or agents, such as nuclear, biological, orchemical agents, in any form (including gaseous, vaporous, aerosol orparticulate form) and communicate their detection status to a centralcontroller. The detector suites can also monitor air pressure, airflows, and, if desired, the detector suites can also include thecapability of detecting heat/smoke associated with fire and/or thecapability of detecting an explosion or ballistic impact.

The central controller, which may take the form of a programmedcomputer, includes information as to the location of all sensors withinthe building or building complex, exit or other signage, air-movementpathways within the building or building complex, and information as topressure and pressure differentials within the building or buildingcomplex. The air-movement pathways can include, for example, hallways,corridors, above-ceiling spaces, below-the-floor spaces (typical ofcomputer rooms), ventilation shafts, and all air-handlingducting/conduits associated with ventilation, heating, andair-conditioning systems. In addition, the central controller includesmodeling software that can forward-model dispersion or dispersionpatterns from the initial or primary release point to other secondarylocations based upon a priori information as to the building(s)configuration.

Upon the detection of a release, the controller identifies allair-movement pathways that are “connected” to or coupled to the locus ofthe release (i.e., air-movement pathways into which the released agentcan move) and then identifies those exits within the locus of therelease. Exit signage is then identified as “don't use” signage oridentified as “use-for-exit” signage. Once the “don't use” exits areidentified, the central controller provides appropriate commands to thevarious “don't use” and “use-for-exit” signs (and, optionally, to audioannunciators) to indicate exits that lead away from the locus of therelease.

Optionally, the central controller can be provided with an increment of“look ahead” capabiltiy that can forward-model the dispersal path orpaths of any gaseous, vaporous, aerosol, or particulate release duringthe period of time in which complete evacuation can be expected anddesignate those exits that have a higher probability of “connecting” tothe modelled dispersal pattern as “don't use” exits. The identificationof the exits in the projected dispersal path or pattern thus creates aset of ‘buffer’ exits between those “don't use” exits identifiedimmediately after a release and those exits most likely to remain safeduring that time period necessary to achieve a full evacuation of thebuilding or building complex. The pattern of safe exit routes can bechanged, in real time, based upon the on-going sensor inputs, themodeling results or both.

As a further option, the central controller can be provided with thecapability of handling multiple simultaneous or near-simultaneousreleases within a building or building complex and identifying the“don't use” exits and those exits having the lowest probability ofexposing the evacuating occupants to the released agents from any of thedifferent release points.

In its simplest form, the system can be used in the context of asingle-story building in which the identification of dispersal pathwaysor patterns can be addressed as a two-dimensional problem. In moresophisticated contexts, the system can be used in large multi-storybuildings or in building complexes in which multiple buildings may beinterconnected by shared concourses, basements and sub-basements,underground parking garages, and above-ground skyways or walkways. Inthese more sophisticated contexts, the identification of dispersalpathways or patterns can be addressed as a three-dimensional problem.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the presentinvention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like partsare designated by like reference characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an idealized view of a multi-building complex in which some ofthe buildings within the complex share common air-movement spaces;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, in representative cross-section, of the buildingcomplex of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a single floor within one of the buildings ofthe complex of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric elevational view of a representative sensor witha portion thereof broken-away to show interior components;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a conventional illuminatable exit signwith directional arrows on each end;

FIG. 5a is an elevational view of an optional “no exit” sign;

FIG. 6 is a representative topology for interconnecting the varioussensors and exit signs with a central controller and its memory;

FIG. 7 is a representative process flow diagram for polling the varioussensors, identifying sensors as active, and illuminating appropriatesignage;

FIG. 8 is a view of FIG. 3 with a released agent forming a stylizedrelease cloud;

FIG. 9 is a representative process flow diagram, similar to FIG. 7, inwhich forward or projective modeling is used in the escape routesolution; and

FIG. 10 is a view of FIG. 3 with a released agent forming a stylizedrelease cloud in which forward model or projection is used in the escaperoute determination.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended for use in designating escape routesin occupied facilities including buildings and building complexes aswell as in industrial facilities, mines, and ships, for example. Asrepresented in FIG. 1, the present invention can used in the context ofbuilding structures including a single story building B1 and inmulti-story buildings, such as buildings B2 and B3. In the case ofbuildings B2 and B3, the buildings can be connected by common spaces,such as underground concourses, basements, sub-basements, garages, etc.,as well as an above-ground skywalk.

As shown in the representative plan view of FIG. 2, each building hasregulation-mandated exit doors or paths. For example, in the case of thesingle story building B1, exits are provided at each corner of thebuilding and through the front door. In the case of an upper floor ofthe multi-story buildings B2 or B3, exit stairwells are provided at eachcorner of the building, and, in those situations where an elevatedskywalk is present, the skywalk can function as an exit.

A representative floor plan of a multi-story building is shown inschematic form in FIG. 3 and includes six stairwells SW1-SW6. As shown,stairwells SW1 and SW2 are located at the upper left and right corners,stairwells SW3 and SW4 are located on either side of the elevator coreEC, and stairwells SW5 and SW6 are located in the lower left and rightcorners of the building.

The floor plan of FIG. 3 includes a central corridor with a lobbydefined in the area of the elevator core EC and a conference room CRopposite from the elevator core EC. A total of eight offices(unnumbered) are shown with four offices on the upper side of theelevator core EC and another four offices on the lower side.

A plurality of sensors are distributed throughout the floor plan of FIG.3 for detecting chemical and biological agents, and, optionally, smoke,flame and/or excess heat associated with fire, explosion, and/orballistic impact. The various sensors include sensors S1 and S2adjacent, respectively, the stair wells SW1 and SW2; sensors S3, S4, S6,and S7 in respective offices, a sensor S5 in the corridor adjacent thesensors S3, S4, S6, and S7, a sensor S9 adjacent the stairwell SW3, asensor S10 in the upper part of the lobby area, a sensor S11 in theconference room, a sensor S12 in the lower portion of the lobby, asensor S13 adjacent the stair well SW4, and sensors S14-S21 distributedin a manner similar to the above-mentioned sensors S1-S7.

Additionally, the floor plan of FIG. 3 is provided with a plurality ofexit signs including exit sign EX1 in the corridor extending betweensensors S1 and S2, an exit sign EX2 in the lobby between sensors S9 andS10, another exit sign EX3 in the lobby between sensors S13 and S12, andan exit sign EX4 in the corridor extending between sensors S20 and S21.Optionally and as explained below in the context of FIG. 5a, a “Stop-NoSafe Exit” sign can also be used.

The sensors can taken various forms provided they function to detect thepresence of target chemcial/biological agents or other agents for whichdetection is deemed desirable. In the preferred embodiment, the sensorscan take the form shown in FIG. 4 and designated generally therein bythe reference character 10. As shown, the sensor 10 includes a local airpressure sensor 12, a biological warfare sensor 14, and a chemicalsensor 16. A blower 18 inducts ambient air for sampling through an inletport 20. The air passes through a diverter 22 into a pre-concentrator24, and then into duct 26 to respective sensors 16 and 14. Exhaust airis vented to the ambient atmosphere via a vent 32. An air speed sensor34 is connected to the outside of sensor 10 to provide air-velocityinformation.

While the arrangement of FIG. 4 shows the sensor 10 as an integratedassembly, other arrangements are suitable. For example and in somecases, the air pressure and air flow sensors can be located within airducts while the chemical sensors can be distributed in rooms, hallways,etc. as described.

Other configurations for the sensor 10 that can sense threateningagents, air speed, and pressure are known to those skilled in the artand are within the scope of the present invention. For example, suitablechemical warfare agent sensors are available under the M-90 designationfrom Environics Oy of Mikkeli, Finland, and the CW Sentry designationfrom Microsensor Systems of Bowling Green, Ky. Suitable biologicalwarfare agent sensors include the Joint Biological Point DetectionSystem designation from Intellitec of Jacksonville, Fla., and the 4-Warndesignation from General Dynamics of Calgary, Canada.

Chemical and biological agents and possible means to detect them arealso described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/969,050filed Oct. 6, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

A front perspective view of a representative exit/alarm sign is shown inFIG. 5 and is designated therein generally by the reference characterEX. As shown, the sign EX includes the word EXIT and includesopposite-pointing arrowheads laterally adjacent the word EXIT. As itcustomary in the art, the word EXIT is backlite by an illuminatable lampand each of the arrowheads likewise can be backlite by an illuminatablelamp. As explained below, a central controller can selectivelyilluminate one or both of the arrowheads to indicate the escape route orcan “darken” the entire display to indicate that the exit is a “don'tuse” exit. As can be appreciated, the exit/alarm sign of FIG. 5 isrepresentative of only one of a plurality of such sign/indicators.

As shown in FIG. 5a, another type of alarm sign, designated by thereference character NOEX can include the message “Stop-No Safe Exit” (orsimilar message) to indicate that a particular passageway or exit is notto be used. Thus and in those instances where the sign of FIG. 5a isused in conjunction with the sign of FIG. 5, the sign of FIG. 5 willserve its usual purpose where that exit is identified as a“use-for-exit” sign. Conversely, where the exit is a “don't use” exit,the sign EX of FIG. 5 will be darkened (i.e., not illuminated) and thesign NoEx of FIG. 5a will be illuminated with its “Stop-No Safe Exit”message.

While the signs of FIGS. 5 and 5a are shown as two separate signs; ascan be appreciated, the signs can be manufactured as a unitary orintegrated structure.

The various sensors and the signage can be interconnected in variousconfigurations in order to implement the present invention. For exampleand as shown in FIG. 6, the various sensors S1, S2, S . . . , Sn-1, andSn and the various signs, including both the exit and the “no-exit”signs, interconnect with a central controller 100 via a system-widebi-directional communications bus 102 in which each component of thesystem include a serial transceiver and related A/D and D/A controllers(not shown) that allow communications in accordance with, for example,an industry-standard protocol (i.e., OSI) and sub-protocols such as theEthernet protocol. While the global bus arrangement shown in FIG. 6 issuitable, other topologies including a ring configuration or a starconfiguration or combinations thereof are suitable. The centralcontroller 100 is provided with a communications capability tocommunicate with the remote locations as needed. While a “hard” wirenetwork is shown in FIG. 6 and is preferable in many applications,wireless models are likewise acceptable depending upon the particularapplication context.

The system of FIG. 6 includes a memory 104 that stores, among otherinformation, the location of each sensor Sn and the signs (EXn andNoEX_(n)), the location of signs that are adjacent to a particularsensor, the direction of each directional arrow head of each exit signin relationship to the location of each exit (e.g., each stairwell orexit door or passageway that leads thereto), and various computationsequences (as presented in FIGS. 7 and 9) for determining the best exitpaths for the various possible release points within the system.

The controller 100 can take the form of a general purpose programmablecomputer, one or more micro-processors controlled by firmware and/orsoftware, and/or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Thememory 104 can be a separate device from the controller or can beintegrated into the controller 100.

At a first level, the system can operate, for example, in accordancewith the process flow diagram of FIG. 7. As shown, the system isinitialized by setting a counter to an initial count (i.e, 1) and thensuccessively polling the operating state of each sensor Sn. This pollingprocess occurs on a sequential basis until all sensors S1, S2, S . . . ,Sn-1, Sn are polled after which the polling sequence is restarted.

While a sequential polling arrangement has been presented in FIG. 7,other arrangements and variations thereof are possible includingnon-polling arrangements in which the central controller 100 waits in areceive mode to receive information sent from a sensor Sn when thatsensor Sn enters the “active” state (i.e., upon detection of the releaseof a chemical or biological agent). In this latter arrangement, eachsensor Sn can be assigned a time slot during which it can transmit itschange in status to the controller 100 (i.e., a synchronous system) orcan merely transmit its change in status as it occurs (i.e., an“asynchronous” system).

Regardless of the method by which the sensors Sn are polled or otherwisetransmit their respective status to the central controller 100, thatsensor or those sensors that go “active” are stored in the memory 104and the identity of the exit signs EXn associated with that or thoseactive sensors Sn and the remaining non-active sensors are identifiedalong with the appropriate “away-pointing” arrows. The term“away-pointing” connotes the arrow or arrows on each of the exit signsEXn that point to, toward, or in the direction of a safer exit (orpassageway to a safer exit) rather than pointing in the direction of therelease. In some cases, both of the arrows on a particular exit sign EXnmay be “away-pointing” arrows while in other cases both arrows may notpoint to or toward a safe exit route.

Once the appropriate exit signs and the particular “awaypointing” arrowsare identified, the controller 100 will transmit the commands toilluminate the appropriate direction arrows on the identified exit signsto establish the exit routing.

As an option and as shown on the lower portion of FIG. 7 and dependingupon the type of exit sign EXn used (i.e., the “no-exit” sign NoEx ofFIG. 5a), the controller 100 can “darken” those exit signs EXn for whichneither direction arrow is an appropriate choice for an exit route. Theterm “darken” means that all lamps within the exit sign are turned-off.Thus, when an occupant seeks to exit, only the ‘safe’ exit signs EXnwith one or both directional arrows will be illuminated. As explainedabove, the signage can also include the FIG. 5a option by which a“Stop-No Safe Exit” or similar message is presented (in addition to“darkening” to conventional exit sign).

FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the process sequence of FIG. 7 inthe context of the floor plan of FIG. 3 in which a release cloud RC hasbeen generated in the lower part of the figure directly beneath sensorS16 and with sensors S14, S15, S17, and S18 also active. Upon detectionof the active sensors, the procedure of FIG. 7 identifies theaway-pointing arrows on exit signs EX3, EX2, and EX1 to direct theoccupants away from the locus of the released cloud RC. Since a measureof judgement is involved in designating the exit signs EXn, the exitsign EX 3, for example, can be adjudged as possibly too close thereleased cloud and, therefor, “darkened” to minimize the probability of“vectoring” an occupant in the direction of the released cloud RC priorto directing that occupant to the stairwell SW4. In those cases with thesignage of FIG. 5a is employed and where the exit sign EX3 is“darkened,” the “Stop-No Safe Exit” signage is illuminated.

A variant of the process or flow control of FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 9and illustrates the concept of “forward modelling” by which thesoftware, for any release point or points, seeks to determine theprobable near-term dispersal pattern. In FIG. 9, the controller 100implements a “forward-model” solution as a function of known air flows,pressure differentials, and pre-identified air-movement or transferpathways. In general, it is only necessary for the model to predict theprobable ‘near-term’ dispersal pattern, i.e., that period of time duringwhich the building will be substantially evacuated. Once the probabledispersal pattern has been modeled, the appropriate exit signage(including, optionally, the “Stop-No Safe Exit” signage NOEX of FIG. 5a)is appropriately controlled.

The forward model functions for all release situations and predictswhere the released material will spread as a function of time and theadjusts the signage appropriately as time passes, even in the caseswhere a sensor or sensors fail. A predicted or ‘anticipated”contamination zone may include, for example, areas with no sensors orareas far distant from the sensors that are initially activated by therelease. Thus, the forward or projected model creates an anticipatorybuffer zone based on upon the location of the initial release.

FIG. 9 illustrates the process or flow control for the modeling variant;the status of the various sensors Sn is determined and any activesensors noted. The controller 100, in cooperation with the memory 104,identifies the locations or areas deemed to be within the probabledispersal pattern as determined by the forward model. Thereafter and ina manner consistent with FIG. 7, the signage is appropriatelycontrolled.

FIG. 10 illustrates the operation of the process sequence of FIG. 9 inthe context of the floor plan of FIG. 3 in which a release cloud RC hasbeen generated in the upper part of the figure directly beneath sensorS5 and with only sensor S5 active. Upon detection of the active sensorS5, the system of FIG. 9 then executes its modelling software for theprobable dispersal pattern, and, in this example, identifies or treatsthe sensors S1, S2, S3, S4, S6, S7, and S10 as soon-to-be active;thereafter, the away-pointing arrows on exit signs EX3 and EX4 arecontrolled to direct the occupants away from the locus of the releasedcloud RC. Optionally, the exit signs EX2 and EX1 can be “darkened” tominimize the probability of “vectoring” an occupant in the direction ofthe released cloud RC prior to directing the occupant to the stairwellSW3. In the case where the signage of FIG. 5a is also used, theappropriate “Stop-No Safe Exit” sign or signs NOEX can be illuminated.

The present invention advantageously provides an adaptive escape routingsystem by which safe exit route(s) can be identified immediately afterthe detection of a release.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various changes andmodifications may be made to the illustrated adaptive escape routingsystem of the present invention without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as determined in the appended claims and theirlegal equivalent.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adaptive escape routing system comprising: aplurality of sensors for sensing the occurrence of a hazardous eventwithin a building or occupied structure, the building or occupiedstructure having a plurality of emergency exits and signage associatedtherewith; and a controller connected to the sensors for determining asubset of the exits providing a safe exit route in the event of ahazardous event, the controller, upon receiving information from one ormore sensors indicating a hazardous event, accessing a memory as afunction of the sensor or sensors indicating the hazardous event anddetermining a probable dispersal pattern for some period of time afterthe hazardous event is initially sensed and identifying that subset ofexits providing a safe exit route as a function of the probabledispersal pattern, the controller controlling the signage to directoccupants to the subset of exits providing a safe exit route.
 2. Theadaptive escape routing system of claim 1, wherein the exit signageincludes at least selectively illuminatable directional arrows, saidcontroller selectively illuminating selected of the directional arrowsto indicate a safe exit route.
 3. The adaptive escape routing system ofclaim 1, wherein the exit signage includes at least a selectivelyilluminatable ‘stop’ message, said controller selectively illuminatingselected ‘stop’ messages to indicate the absence of a safe exit route.4. The adaptive escape routing system of claim 1, wherein the exitsignage includes at least selectively illuminatable directional arrowsand includes at least a selectively illuminatable ‘stop’ message, saidcontroller selectively illuminating selected of the directional arrowsto indicate a safe exit route and selectively illuminating selected‘stop’ messages to indicate the absence of a safe exit route.
 5. Theadaptive escape routing system of claim 1, wherein the hazardous eventincludes the release of a chemical, biological, and/or nuclear in agaseous, vapor, aerosol, or particulate form.
 6. An adaptive escaperouting system for a building or other occupied structure having aplurality of emergency exits, comprising: sensor means distributedthroughout the building for detecting the occurrence of a hazardousevent, signage means for providing exit routing indications tooccupants; and a controller connected to the sensor means fordetermining a subset of the exits providing a safe exit route in theevent of a hazardous event, the controller, upon receiving informationfrom one or more sensors indicating a hazardous event, accessing amemory as a function of the sensor or sensors indicating the hazardousevent and determining a probable dispersal pattern for some period oftime after the hazardous event is initially sensed and identifying thatsubset of exits providing a safe exit route as a function of theprobable dispersal pattern and controlling the signage means to providerouting indications to the subset of exits providing a safe exit route.7. The adaptive escape routing system of claim 6, wherein the signagemeans includes at least selectively illuminatable directional arrows,said controller selectively illuminating selected of the directionalarrows to indicate a safe exit route.
 8. The adaptive escape routingsystem of claim 6, wherein the signage means includes at least aselectively illuminatable ‘stop’ message, said controller selectivelyilluminating selected ‘stop’ messages to indicate the absence of a safeexit route.
 9. The adaptive escape routing system of claim 6, whereinthe signage means includes at least selectively illuminatabledirectional arrows and includes at least a selectively illuminatable‘stop’ message, said controller selectively illuminating selected of thedirectional arrows to indicate a safe exit route and selectivelyilluminating selected ‘stop’ messages to indicate the absence of a safeexit route.
 10. The adaptive escape routing system of claim 6, whereinthe hazardous event includes the release of a chemical, biological,and/or nuclear in a gaseous, vapor, aerosol, or particulate form.
 11. Amethod of determining and indicating escape routes in a building orother occupied structure having a plurality of exit ways and signageassociated therewith, comprising: sensing the occurrence of a hazardousevent within the building or occupied structure; and determining aprobable dispersal pattern for some period of time after the hazardousevent is initially sensed and identifying that subset of exits providinga safe exit route as a function of the probable dispersal pattern andcontrolling the signage to direct occupants to the subset of exitsproviding a safe exit route.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theexit signage includes at least selectively illuminatable directionalarrows, said controlling step including selectively illuminatingselected of the directional arrows to indicate a safe exit route. 13.The method of claim 11, wherein the exit signage includes at leastselectively illuminatable ‘stop’ message said controlling step includingselectively illuminating selected ‘stop’ messages to indicate theabsence of a safe exit route.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein theexit signage includes at least selectively illuminatable directionalarrows and includes at least a selectively illuminatable ‘stop’ message,said controlling step including selectively illuminating selected of thedirectional arrows to indicate a safe exit route and selectivelyilluminating selected ‘stop’ messages to indicate the absence of a safeexit route.